Can you have an addiction-prone personality?

Question

I should be able to answer this question myself, given my profession, but when it comes to yourself it can be hard to see clearly. My problem is I always overdo things. Earlier in my life I drank too much, but thankfully I lost interest 4 years ago. At the moment I'm adddicted to cigarettes (by far the worst, I know), diet pepsi (I drink about 4 litres a day), ebay (can't really afford it) and now Yahoo Answers. I've always had some kind of addiction in my life from I was about 20. Do you think it's possible to change this? It seems like when I quit one thing another one immediately pops up.

Answer 1

Yes, in general unless you're talking a pure physical addiction to something (which I think is rare -- there is usually a mental component as well), you will find "addictive-type personalities" rather than an activity that is purely addictive.

There are many things that are not addictive for some people and very addictive to others. Some people can moderate their computer game playing, their gambling, their drinking, their food intake, while others in the same situation cannot.

(For example, my wife has only one real addiction -- television. She doesn't understand other types of addiction; it just doesn't make sense to her. I'm more of an addictive personality by nature; but TV is not one of those things. Ironic.)

I think there are two general types of people -- the controllers and the seekers. Controllers tell themselves how they should be feeling and decide what is meaningful, often failing to search. Seekers generally have more generalized addiction problems; they look for meaning and purpose and "emotional highs" through an outside object or experience, so they're always looking to fill the emptiness with something they've discovered.

I know I run the cycle. I drank too much as a teen, but my intense attraction has ranged from anything such as reading/knowledge (and Yahoo Answers... :) ) to eating, drinking, computer gaming, work/writing, buying/collect things, and so on.

I simply become very intense and fixated on an activity or behavior, have trouble stopping, think about it constantly when I'm not doing it, suffer anxiety when I'm not doing it, and feel a real high when I am doing it.

You sound like me that way. You simply have an Addiction Du Jour, and move on when the old one fails to feel as good.

Part of it is seeing what you're doing and realizing that it's an addiction -- that the thing you think makes you feel alive is just one more transient thing that will pass like everything else. You can't always feel that mountaintop experience, nor achieving that feeling should necessarily be the focus of your efforts. Life has a lot more emotionally "flat" areas.

If you find a purpose in life that you can dedicate yourself to, then that helps "smooth" out the temptations. You have a reason to not indulge. It's hard to say no when you have nothing else going for you, and nothing else you are dedicated to... (so why not feel good, just temporarily?)

Usually spirituality ties into this. I have strong faith in God that also helps me sit back and look for something deeper. It doesn't fix my problems, and I still struggle, but it gives me a reason to struggle and not just float along. I have another priority besides just finding some high emotional experience.

I think you will probably always be searching. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. It means you're not content with a pointless, boring life; you're willing to hunt for something that feels meaningful. You have expectations for what life SHOULD be and feel like.

You just need to develop a sense of perspective over what is reasonable to expect in life; and find something that you can dedicate yourself to, that will help you channel your desire so that you're not just chasing one experience after the next.

Answer 2

Glad to know I'm not the only one, seems I've always been addicted to stuff as well, I sound alot like you, I'm so addicted to cigarettes right now, I can't stop smoking as much as I really want to, I've tryed the patch, the gum, cold Turkey, I'm about to even try the new ear staple thing...www.amazingearstaple.com...I'm also addicted to Big Red, (they only have that soda here in Texas), I drink almost a 12 pack a day, I smoke a pack a day, I'm addicted to yahoo answers now to, and I know what you mean, I get rid of one addiction and another comes up, maybe it's all in our mind, that's what my brother Tell's me, he says' you can stop doing anything if you want to you just have to make yourself and set your mind to, it's all mind play, anyway, your not alone...God bless

Answer 3

Yes, one can have an additive personality. I do too. It's an affliction for type-a people. We are bored, extremely curious, understand things easily but like to explore its very roots.

That what makes us swing to another 'addiction' until we're spent on it. It's more a deep interest than an addiction. I don't worry about it anymore. (BTW - I used to drink and smoke too - that I gave up for health reasons)

When I've exhausted my interest in something I turn my attention to the next thing,in other words I've accepted myself!

Answer 4

i think it is definitely a type of personality, because i am like that too. i tend to be interested in something then i get obsessed. it can get really annoying because i usually end up losing interest. i don't know if it possible to overcome, but i do think it possible to find a way to deal with it. at least you are addicted to diet pepsi and not regular pepsi like i am. and at least you ebay instead of going to department stores like i do. i am addicted to impossible relationships that make me feel like crap so it could be worse. you are not alone.

Answer 5

You need to learn other ways to cope. Build a sstem of support aroung you. Join a support group. I am a little ocd, but for me Yahoo answers is so mindless and I need a little time to do "nothing" personally. Good luck! And yes, you sound a little bit like you have an addictive personality-I do too. It ain't so bad....

Answer 6

i hop from one to another..but most of them are harmless and short lived